Employment
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that state and local governments added an estimated 21,000 jobs in May 2025, with local governments responsible for all of the increase. State and local employment has increased in all but two of the last 39 months and the aggregate level of state and local employment has exceeded its previous February 2020 peak by 637,000 jobs.
The BLS identifies approximately 20.6 million employees of state and local government as of May 2025. Local governments, which include most school districts, account for nearly three-quarters of total state and local employment, with state governments accounting for around one-quarter of the total. Overall, state and local employment accounts for approximately 13 percent of the nation's workforce.
The private sector added an estimated 140,000 jobs in May 2025.
The charts below present the relative changes in state and local government and private sector employment since 2007.
Monthly changes in state and local government
and private sector employment, 2007-2025
Monthly changes in state and local government employment, 2007-2025
Compiled by NASRA based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data is sourced from the BLS Current Employment Statistics program, which is a monthly survey of households, businesses, and governments measuring employment, hours, and earnings estimates. The CES survey reference period is the pay period that includes the 12th day of the month. Data are published on a preliminary basis and revised twice before being finalized.
See more: https://www.bls.gov/ces/